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Let's open Tugboat Alley's Ship's Log with a visit with the President of Portsmouth, NH Pilots Association, Shirley Holt.

Shirl's earliest memories of the river involve working as a young boy with his grandfather on the tugs. He spent summers learning the intricacies of the tugs and the river.

He attended the Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME, for 3 years, doing classroom time and sea time to qualify for his licensing.

He then spent 3 years in the Navy on ships in the Far East.Upon returning to Portsmouth, he joined the Merchant Marine and sailed up and down the East Coast on tankers.